Thieving mechanism



May 29, 1951 J. 5. KULP THIEVING MECHANISM Fi led Dec. 31, 1949 INVENTOR. JOSEPH S. KULP ATTORNEYS Patented May 29, 1951 THIEVING MECHANISM Joseph S. Kulp, Arden, Pa., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa.,

New Jersey a corporation of Application December 31, 1949, Serial No. 136,331

This invention relates generally to liquid samplers and more particularly to those devices supporting a thermometer and adapted to be lowered into a body of liquid for sampling and testing selected strata ofthe liquid, known in the art as an oil thief.

Devices of this type are used in oil and chemical industries as means for determining the temperature and other characteristics of liquids stored in bulk. Various forms of cups and valve arrangements have been used progressing in complexity from a simple cup or dipper through complicated valve operated mechanisms involving spring and weight motors. It is an object of this invention to provide a liquid sampler of simple construction capable of controlled action in the liquid body whereby a sample of the liquid at a selected elevation is obtained without dilution of liquids from other levels.

A thermometer cup, well known in the art, was modified for use as the receptacle of the present device. A valve mechanism is mounted on the cup by brackets and is spring operated to draw the liquid sample into the cup and force unwanted liquid out, should there be any present.

By means of a simple latching arrangement the cup is set in a ready position before it is lowered into the liquid and then operated at the desired level by the sudden movement of the lowering line. The complete structure and the method of operation will be more fully understood by the following detailed description with reference to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly broken away to show details inside the cup.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view of Figure 1 along line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly broken away to show details inside the cup.

In the figures of the drawing, the numerals designate like parts in all the views for uniformity in the description of the device and its operation. The receptacle I0, here noted as a modified thermometer cup known to the art, is adapted by opposed apertures I2 and I4 in the top and bottom of the receptacle, respectively, to admit liquid to the body of the vessel or receptacle Ill. An extension I6 on one end of the receptacle II] is arranged to hold the thermometer I8 in a hole or slot I9 so that it extends down into the liquid receiving space 20 of the receptacle I0. This extension is adapted to support the valve mechanism which operates to admit the liquid from the selected depth of the stored quantity into the body or part 20 of the re ept l 4 Claims. (Cl. 73-4254) Brackets 22 and 24 are fastened to the extension I6 and spaced apart to support the valve rod 26 and the actuating rod 28. A tension spring 30, fastened to the actuating rod 28 on one end and to the upper bracket 22 on the other, tends to keep the rod 28 well within the bracket supports 22 and 24 and the release cam 32 below and clear of the latch 34. A support 36 for the latch 34 is fastened to the lower bracket 24 and retains the latch in swinging position by means of a pivot pin 38. The latch 34 is set at an angle to the extension I6 and the bracket 24, to clear the valve rod 26 as shown in Figure 2 so that this rod with the valve members attached is free to operate through the upper and lower apertures I2 and I4 of the receptacle II]. An eye 29 in the upper end of the actuating rod serves as a means to which the operating and suspending line 3i is attached.

The valve rod 26 is mounted in the upper and lower brackets 22 and 24 adjacent the actuating rod 26 and sufficiently close for the latch 34, supported from the lower bracket 24, to engage a stop 40 which is securely fastened to the valve rod 26. The brackets 22 and 24 serve to keep the rods 26 and'28 in operating engagement and also to position the valve rod 26 in registry with the upper and lower apertures I2 and I4 respectively. Between the upper bracket 22 and the end of the valve rod, a compression spring 42 is secured by a washer and nut arrangement 44 to butt against the upper bracket 22. On the other end of the valve rod 26 and positioned to cooperate with the receptacle II] a lower valve member 46 is fastened. 'As the valve rod passes through the receptacle, centered in the upper and lower apertures I2 and I4,the valve member 46 is outside and below the receptacle. Another valve member designated here as the upper valve member 48 is also fastened to the valve rod in position to operate above the body of the receptacle alternating the valve operation of the upper aperture I2 with the operation of the lower valve member 46 in the lower aperture I4,

Within the receptacle II) in the liquid receiving part or body 20, a plunger 50 is fixed to the valve rod 26 to move with the rod and valve members 46 and 48 as they alternate the closing of their respective apertures. The plunger 50 is formed of a piece of flexible material 52, resistant to the liquids in which it is used, such as neoprene or felt, for oil storage, sandwiched between stiffeners 54 and 56. Small pads 51 and 58, made of suitable material (in this case, neoprene), are located above and below the stiffeners 54 and 56 to close the upper and lower apertures l2 and M respectively from the inside of the receptacle. The flexible material 52 is in wiping contact with the periphery of the liquid receivin body space 20. Thin sheet metals and plastic are satisfactory stifi'ening materials for stifieners 54 and 55. Properly fastened together with rivets this presents an acceptable plunger for the purpose. A hole 59 is'placedto admit the thermometer as the plunger moves upward in operation. The flexible material 52 is also in wiping contact with the thermometer [8 in the hole 59, as shown.

The thieving mechanism is prepared for operation by forcing the valve ,rod :26 downwardly, thus moving the upper valve member :4B-into sealing engagement with the upper aperture l2 of the receptacle l and lower valve member 46 away from the lower aperture 14. This same movement of the valve rod 26 transfers the plunger 50 from the upper inner face of the receiving space or body 250i thereceptacle, where pad 51 on the top of the plunger 50 covered .the upper .aperture 12, to the lower .inner face of the body .20, thus .covering lower aperture I4 with pad 58 on the bottom of plunger .50. The downward movement of the plunger 50 cleans the inner surface of the body 2|] of the receptacle l0 and the thermometer tube I8 of any .liquid remaining from previous operations by reason of the wiping action-of the flexible .material52 thereon. This movement of the valve .rod 26 with the affixed valve members 46 and 48 .and the plunger 50 compresses the spring 42 and places the stop 40 in position to be retained by the latch -34. The latch 34 .is pushed over to engage the sto 41] and is held in that position by the spring 42 urging the valve rod 26 upwardly. This position is shown .in Figure l and with the thermometer 18 in place in the slot IS, the device is now ready to be lowered into the body of liquid to the selected depth where the sample is to be taken.

The line 3|, securely fastened to the actuating rod 28 through the eye 29 is the means by which the device is lowered to the predetermineddepth. The device need not be handled with too great care as the latchin mechanism :has a comparatively large engaging surface and the .spring 42 being in compression firmly holds the valve .rod in the latched position. .A the thief is lowered in the liquid the upper aperture 12 is sealed by "the upper valve member 48 and the lower aperture I4 is covered by the plunger 50 preventing the entrance of any liquid into the inner space 290i the receptacle Ill. At theproper depth the line 3| is jerked upwardly pulling the actuating rod upwardly against the tension of the spring 30 and the cam 32 into releasing engagement with the latch 34-as shown by the dottedlines in Figure 3. The latch 34, pushed aside, releases the stop 49 and the compressed spring '42 moves the valve rod 26 upwardly. As the rod .26 moves the valve members 46 and 48 affixed to the rod move also and alternate their closure of the receptacle 0 by opening the upper :aperture l2 and closing the lower aperture [4. The plunger 50, in wiping contact with the resilient material .52 engaging the periphery of the liquid receiving space of the receptacle and the thermometer ill in its upward movement, opens the lower aperture l4 by lifting the pad 58 mounted thereon andmoves to close the upper aperture I2 by bringing pad 5'! into contact therewith. This plunger movement is in opposition to the alternate opening and closing movement of the valve members 46 and 48 and by this single movement :opens and oloses'the receptacle for sampling purposes. The liquid to be sampled, surroundin the device under pressure, moves into the lower aperture l4 assisted by the suction of the plunger 50 moving upwardly. Any liquid tending to enter the upper aperture I2 is repelled by the natural upward movement of the entrapped air as well as the wiping action of the plunger moving upwardly. However, any small quantity of liquid which might enter the upper aperture and remain in the receptacle would not affect the result as the sample is completely taken at the desired elevation in the storage container and thereceptacle is closed both before and after .this sample .is taken.

'The'thief is then drawn to the surface and out of the tank and the thermometer read. The liquid entrapped in the receptacle may be used for further test or returned to the bulk storage by letting it flow out the lower aperture by slight pressure on the valve rod. With proper cleaning the device is again ready for use .as outlined above.

The receptacle indicated here as va modified thermometer cup will be understood as merely one form of many which might be used. The material from which it is made is not pertinent nor are the materials which comprise the other elements of the thief The valve members and plunger pads, especially for use in petroleum products, have been made fromneoprene and are satisfactory. This is not a limiting requirement, however, as it will be evident that any material suitable for the purpose may be used within the spirit of the invention.

I claim;

.1. A device for selectively sampling liquid bodies comprising a receptacle having opposed apertures in the top and bottom thereof, a valve rod operably mounted on said receptacle and passing through said apertures, an upper and a lower valve member in spaced :relation on said valve rod externally of the receptacle adapted to alternately open and close said apertures respectively, a plunger on said valve rod within the receptacle arranged to peripherally engage the inner walls thereof in sliding contact and cover the aperture opened by the alternate movement of said valve members, a resilient member in operative connection with said valve rod tending "to hold the lower valve member in sealing engagement with the bottom aperture and the plunger in covering engagement with the upper aperture, a latch operatively connected with said valve rod, an actuating rod adjacent the valve rod, and a cam on the actuating rod positioned to trip said latch and permit the valve rod to move to the alternate position.

2. A device for selectively sampling liquid bodies comprising a receptacle having opposed apertures in the top and bottom thereof; a valve rod operably mounted on said receptacle and extending through the apertures; upper and lower valve members positioned in spaced relation on said valve rod externally of said receptacle to alternately open and close said apertures; a plunger inside said receptacle operably mounted .on said valve rod substantially midway between the upper and lower valve members and adapted to move therewith to cover the aperture opened in the movement of the valve members; a resilient member in operative connection with said valve rod tending to hold the lower valve member in sealing engagement with the bottom and the plunger in covering position with the upper aperture; a latch in operating engagement with said 5 valve rod and means to trip said latch when the device is submerged in a liquid body.

3. A device for selectively sampling liquid bodies comprising a receptacle having opposed apertures in the top and bottom thereof; a valve rod operably mounted on said receptacle and extending through the apertures; a bottom aperture closure member connected to the lower end of said valve rod below the receptacle; an upper aperture closure member connected to the valve rod above the receptacle and spaced from said bottom closure member to reciprocally alternate therewith in closing and opening the respective apertures; a plunger mounted on said valve rod within the receptacle in spaced relation to said valve member and operable therewith to alternately cover the aperture opened by the reciprocal movement of said valve members and constructed to slidingly engage the surfaces within the receptacle; resilient means operatively conend openings therein; a valve rod operably mounted on said receptacle and longitudinally movable through said openings; valve members mounted on said rod externally of said receptacle adapted to alternately close said opposed openings; a plunger within the receptacle fixed to the valve rod in spaced relation with the external valve members and movable from the closed position on one opening to the closed position on the opposed opening in cooperation with the movement of the external valve members; resilient means operatively connected to said valve rod tending to hold one of the valve members and the plunger in sealing engagement with said opposed openings; and releasing means in operating engagement with said valve rod cooperating with said resilient means for actuating the movement of the plunger and said valve members.

JOSEPH S. KULP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,210,487 Kaul Jan. 2, 1917 1,887,859 Pearce Nov. 15, 1932 2,059,999 Rainville, Sr Nov. 3, 1936 

